REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

Written Testimony of Mr. Charles Paul, Charge d’affaires a.i., Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the United States of America, before the

United States House of Representatives - Foreign Affairs

Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment

“Climate Change and Vulnerable Societies: A Post-Bali Overview”

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Thank you, Chairman Faleomavaega and Subcommittee members, for hearing our testimony.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has a long tradition of diplomatic cooperation and affiliation with the United States. Despite lingering differences on several key issues, the RMI continues to be a strong friend of the US, especially within the United Nations, even when doing so is not always popular or easy. This long-standing alliance is based not only upon contemporary agreements, including the Compact of Free Association, and from the US’s historical role as territorial administrator, but also from the dark years of World War II, when US soldiers landed in the Marshall Islands to end violent atrocities and human rights violations committed upon peaceful Marshallese communities.

Given the depth of our friendship, it is important that this subcommittee understands the deep frustration felt by the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands regarding the continued US federal position on climate change. While we do note that the US has recently recognized the need for technological innovation in clean energy generation, the ongoing lack of federal support for the Kyoto Protocol, coupled with the firm federal opposition to consider binding GHG reductions, represents a global diplomatic failure with devastating consequences to the RMI; neither existing US research initiatives nor pending legislation have actually resulted in substantially lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The US can best advance international cooperation on climate change, and protect highly-vulnerable nations such as the RMI, by successfully implementing the Kyoto Protocol, thus ensuring the immediate reduction in US GHG emissions.

Mr. Chairman,

With an average height of only 7 feet (or 2 meters) above sea level, the RMI’s sovereignty and existence are threatened by sea level rise. Scientific predictions contained in the most recent UN-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report indicate that as much as 80% of Majuro, the RMI capital, may become uninhabitable within the next century due to an anticipated sea level rise of approximately 20 inches (0.5 meters). RMI’s own national records indicate a sea level rise of 1 inch per decade since the late 1960s, with additional indicators showing a recent acceleration in the rate of global sea level rise. In addition, increased reports of severe coastal erosion and other unusual ecological changes within both RMI and the Pacific region make it clear that climate change is a stark and immediate reality, not just a distant and theoretical possibility. While RMI is organizing its long term adaptation strategies to reduce exposure to negative impacts of climate change, we have already developed important strategies to address climate change (including capacity-building through human resource development, renewable energy programs, and vulnerable resource conservation initiatives such as the Micronesia Challenge).

Mr. Chairman,

We seek your aid in implementing these adaptation strategies to minimize the negative impacts and risks associated with global climate change. However, it is ultimately only through the immediate global reduction of GHG emissions that the RMI will continue to survive as a sovereign nation.

Mr. Chairman,

Ultimately, sea level rise threatens the existence of our nation and our people will be among the world’s first climate refugees. With fragile coastal ecosystems as the basis of our food security, and our traditional land tenure as the foundation of our cultural identity, my nation must ask the global community, and the US in particular as a major emitter, difficult questions regarding threats to our development, security and fundamental freedom – what becomes of our national boundaries and cultural traditions, our legal identity and our homeland? The global community cannot continue to avoid these questions.

Mr. Chairman,

We are facing a global crisis regarding the continuing rise in GHG emissions. Not only has the US, as a major emitter, backed away from the Kyoto Protocol, but numerous Kyoto signatories are likely to miss their emissions reductions targets. Coupled with unchecked economic growth by developing nations, the failed obligations to date by Annex I nations has allowed global GHG emissions to continue rising. According to the recent UN-IPCC Fourth Report, the Annex I countries, as a group, would need to cut 25%-40% of existing GHG emissions by 2020, to limit some of the more severe impacts of climate change. Fostering technological innovation in clean energy production will not alone reduce harmful emissions; successful implementation demands that economic growth mechanisms be closely linked to GHG emissions reductions programs. It is clear that even when multilateral commitments are made, much of the world is hard-pressed to successfully implement GHG reduction strategies.

Mr. Chairman,

Only one generation ago, both Democrats and Republicans united to devise the first generation of America’s modern environmental law; these laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, served as an influential beacon for many other nations.

The US once held a global leadership position on global and domestic climate change initiatives. Over 120 separate Congressional bills were proposed by 1990 which discussed climate change in some form, including 18 bills which linked climate change and the National Environmental Policy Act. In a 1988 report, the Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works stated, with the confirmation of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality, that the National Environmental Policy Act has “both the legal basis and procedural framework for assessing the potential effects of Federal activities on the global climate.” In addition, the innovative sulfer dioxide credit trading market established by Congress under the Clean Air Act of 1990 has become the template for recent efforts in establishing carbon credit trading markets.

As a recognized global leader in financial and policy innovation, the US can once again lead the world by example in developing multiple tools, at the federal level, for creative implementation of GHG emissions goals. Merely supporting the Kyoto Protocol, and subsequent post-Bali United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change agreements now under discussion, will not alone reduce the GHG emissions of the US or other major emitters. One of the best means by which the US can help ensure the survival of low-lying small island nations is to lead the world in devising its own successful, creative domestic implementation strategies for achieving global climate goals.

The US has already proven itself capable of this leadership on a number of occasions, including the most recent well-publicized Bali meeting in November of last year, when the US delegation agreed to a compromise proposal from the developing countries (which aimed to ensure that mitigation actions by developing countries are supported by technology, financing and capacity building).

Mr. Chairman,

It is not too late for the US to reverse this course of action on climate change, and to help lead the global community in reaching consensus on what remains the single biggest diplomatic challenge of our generation. Many US local communities and states have already recognized the importance of climate change. The RMI and the government of King County, Washington (including the city of Seattle) recently signed a Shared Action Agreement last year. We also applaud regional, state and municipal attempts in GHG reduction strategies in California, New York, the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic, among other areas. However valuable these efforts, they will remain fragmented until these initiatives are linked with the implementation of successful and binding federal strategy to reduce GHG emissions.

Mr. Chairman,

The RMI has virtually nil GHG emissions on a global scale; small island developing states such as RMI contribute the least to causing climate change, yet remain the most vulnerable to its impacts. We realize the critical importance of the impacts of climate change on our small islands and people. GHG emissions are truly an issue of survival, and we have voluntarily taken it upon ourselves to address the reduction of our own GHG emissions (even though we have nil emissions) by implementing national renewable energy programs, strengthening waste management, and upgrading our efforts to implement national laws on land activities. We are planning to carry out work on measuring our GHG emissions later this year, as well as to undertake vulnerability assessments, with the goal of better understanding RMI’s exposure to anticipated climate impacts. Despite our limited human resources, we will also continue to participate effectively at the international arena to bring our issues to the world on climate change.

Mr. Chairman,

The RMI is concerned about the international responsibilities of all major emitters. While understanding that GHG emissions reduction goals will only be successfully implemented when linked to economic development and poverty reduction, the production of each ton of CO2 is a small assault upon our shores, regardless of its source. Should the US choose to address its own global responsibilities in undertaking binding emissions reduction goals outlined in the Kyoto Protocol, the RMI seeks to forge a valuable partnership with the US in future diplomatic negotiations addressing the responsibilities of all major emitters. We have also enclosed our recent statement before the United Nations, in which we outline recommendations by which the UN system can better undertake an action-oriented approach to climate change.

Mr. Chairman,

The United States has long served as a valuable partner to the RMI, and is deeply invested in our social and economic development. Sound financial prudence would dictate that such an important investment deserves protection. In addition to ongoing assistance with a variety of social and economic programs, we strongly encourage the US to mainstream climate change into its existing international aid by funding and providing technical assistance to developing RMI’s climate change initiatives, including renewable energy strategies and conservation efforts through the Micronesia Challenge (a regional public-private partnership trust fund to help the Micronesian Islands achieve the conservation and protection of vulnerable coastal areas by the year 2020).

Mr. Chairman,

The efforts of US federal agencies and academic researchers have led the world in the emerging understanding of climate change impacts upon coastal and marine resources, enhancing our knowledge of coral reef bleaching and ocean acidification. Many small island nations depend upon marine and coastal resources for economic development, tourism and cultural identity. Our fisheries are a source of both global and subsistence food security. Further enhancing these valuable federal research programs, and encouraging direct research partnerships with small island developing states, will also allow the US to take a valuable step in helping the world’s most vulnerable nations better understand and prepare for climate impacts.

In closing,

We would like to thank the subcommittee and its Chairman for the opportunity to present our testimony on behalf the Republic of the Marshall Islands. We also remind this subcommittee of RMI’s deep and valued relationship with the US. The people of the Marshall Islands have made many important sacrifices for the US: many of my fellow Marshallese serve directly as full members of the US armed forces in the global war on terrorism, in addition to our difficult history pertaining to America’s nuclear weapons testing legacy. Please honor our sacrifices, patriotism and continued friendship by strengthening your own meaningful global leadership on this most pressing issue.

Addendum (enclosed, below): Written statement by Ms. Rina Tareo, Charge d’affaires a.i., of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the United Nations, regarding Climate Change, the UN System, and Partnerships, delivered before the United Nations General Assembly, 13 February 2008.

REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

STATEMENT BY MS. RINA TAREO, CHARGE D’AFFAIRES OF THE

THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS MISSION

TO THE UNITED NATIONS, DURING THE 62^ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

THEMATIC DEBATE ON “ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE: THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE WORLD AT WORK” NEW YORK, 13 FEBRUARY 2008

check against delivery

Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Republic of the Marshall Islands wishes to fully align itself with the statement of Tonga on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum Small Island Developing States, and Grenada on behalf of AOSIS.

Mr. President,

Many of the world’s low-lying small island nations – the nations most vulnerable to climate impacts – have spent decades trying to bring the urgency of climate change to the attention of member nations. With an average height of only 3 meters above sea level, the Republic of the Marshall Islands truly values the personal leadership of Secretary-General Ban, as well as the commitment of General Assembly President Kerim, in finally providing climate change its much-deserved attention within the UN system.

However, we must not fool ourselves into thinking that climate change can be addressed only by generalized discussion – instead, the global community needs the help of a more effective and coherent UN system to turn broad hopes for climate change into action-oriented results. Too often, paperwork, studies and well-founded UN agency intentions have failed to translate into real benefits.

Mr. President,

The UN system must recognize that “adaptation” is an inherently limited long-term solution for certain low-lying member nations, such as the Republic of the Marshall Islands. While there are important mid-term adaptation strategies, such as the Micronesia Challenge (which aims to conserve our vulnerable coastal resources by 2020), rising sea levels will likely present questions which are without legal precedent in the global community.

With fragile coastal ecosystems as the basis of our food security, and our traditional land tenure as the foundation of our cultural identity, my nation must ask the global community difficult questions regarding threats to our development, security and fundamental freedom – what becomes of our national boundaries and cultural traditions, our legal identity and our homeland? In what ways might major emitters bear responsibility under international law? The global community cannot continue to avoid these questions. In working to support UNFCCC negotiations, the UN system can also facilitate productive diplomatic discussion on issues of human rights and national sovereignty central to the UN Charter.

Mr. President,

My nation suggests that an important role for the UN system rests in assisting member nations with domestic implementation of the UNFCC and other climate change goals.

The need for assistance has never been more urgent – major GHG emitters are struggling to integrate climate strategies with economic development goals. Domestic climate change initiatives are time-consuming to develop, are rarely linked with urban or industrial growth programs at the national or local level, and rarely allow for public involvement.

With extreme urgency, the Republic of the Marshall Islands calls attention to the August 2007 plenary statement of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization, which called upon the global community to examine the potential interlinkage between climate goals and existing national or local environmental laws, in particular environmental impact assessment (a legal norm unilaterally adopted by over 100 member nations). We urge the UN system, in particular UNDP and UNEP, to carefully study the ability of environmental impact assessment laws to address climate change, and, as appropriate, work closely with national experts to build this capacity.

Mr. President,

Our relationships on climate change with key partners have already allowed my nation to take great strides in further reducing our own small amount GHG emissions (even though we are not an Annex 1 nation). However, those decision-makers who have the greatest opportunity to make an impact on implementing climate change goals – and those populations who are at greatest risk – are too often excluded from meaningful interaction within the UN system.

Innovative cross-sectoral partnerships open up direct lines of communication between populations most affected by climate impacts, and the decision-makers who are able to reduce those impacts (such as major cities). A useful example is the 2007 Statement of Shared Action between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and King County, Washington in the United States (including the City of Seattle). We encourage the UN system to take a more direct role in playing matchmaker and encouraging these direct relationships between key decision-makers and highly-vulnerable populations.

Mr. President,

Oceans and coastal areas are critical for the survival of many small island developing states. We call upon the UN system to address the potential for the conservation of coral reefs to be considered as an eligible carbon sink under the Clean Development Mechanism. In addition, we call upon the UN system to examine the link between climate change impacts (including coral reef bleaching and ocean acidification) and the food security gained from commercial and subsistence fisheries, and to alert decision-makers of its findings.

Mr. President,

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is strongly concerned that new global climate change funding mechanisms under discussion with the World Bank may compete with existing and newly-established funding channels for adaptation. It is important that the recipient nations also be afforded an opportunity to participate in governance of these funds, and that the UN system ensures that climate change adaptation funding continues to be addressed with transparency.

Mr. President,

The narrow window for global action is rapidly closing. My nation urges both the UN system, and member nations, to meet this extraordinary challenge by turning rhetoric into results.